Packing-machine.



No. 817,375. PATENTED APR. 10, 1906.

- J. A. .KEYES.

PACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mum JULY 17, 1903.

' '1 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED APR. 10. 1906.

In A. KEYES.

PACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1903.

1 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

r m m No. 817,375. PATENTED APR. 10 1906. J. A. KEYES. PACKING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 17,1903.

7 SHEETS-SHEET a.

J72 Wafer w W WW Wiin esses:

PATENTED APR. 10, 1906.

J. A. KBYES.

PACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17,1903.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

No. 817,375. PATENTED APR. 10, 1906. J. A. KEYES.

PACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17,1903.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.-

wl-msm- Mei/M No. 817,375. 7 PATENTED APR. 10, 1906. J. A. KEYES.

PACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17,1903.

7 SHEETSr-SHEET 6.

Wz'inesses: jm/enior No. 817,375. PATENTED APR. 10, 1906. J. A. KEYES.

PACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION I'ILED JULY 17.1903.

T SHEETS-SHEET 7.

Wz'in esses UNiTED stratus PATENT JAMES A. KEYES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WMflKlNQ NlAGHlNE.

lilo. 817,3'75.

To a it may concern:

Be it known that l, J AMES A. KnYEs, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of IIO 7 view, partly in section, of a machine embodyin this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal si e section of the same. Figs. 3, l, and 5 are partial longitudinal sectional views taken substantially along the line 3 3 of Fig- 1,

showing the supply mechanism in difierent positions. Fig.6 is a partial transverse sectional view taken'substantially along the line 6 6 of Fig. 1, showing the transfer mechanism. Fi 's. 7 and 8 are similar views taken substantially alongthe line 7 7 of Fig. 1. and 11 are details of this mechanism, Fig. 11 being taken substantially along the line 11 11 of Fig. 6. Figs. 12 and 13 are partial plan views showing the transfer mechanism. Figs. 1a, 15, and 16 are partial transverse sectional views showing the box-feeding mechanism.

Fig. 17 isfa partial longitudinal view of the same. Fig. 18 is a detail of this mechanism.

In the embodiment of this invention indicated in the drawings a su ply mechanism is provided to form'a row 0 articles, such as wrapped cakes of soap, adjacent the table of the machine. A transfer mechanism operates upon this row of articles when formed and forces them upon the table, formin a layer of articles from a number of rows. he layer of articles is then pushed by the insert mechanism into the box or receptacle, the box being fed forwardby suitable box-feeding devices and being discharged when filled.

Supply mechanism-The embodiment of this lnvention is shown in the drawings as formed with asuitable rigid frame G, upon which'the various parts of the mechanism are mounted. The table G is mounted upon this frame, and the runway or sup ort G to receive a row of articles is forme adjacent this table and preferably slightly elevated above the same, as is indicated in Fig. 7 The Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed T111y 17, 1903. Serial No. 166,940.

Figs. 9, 10,.

Patented April 10, race.

supply-chute H see Fig. 3) is located adjacent the runway, and the series of articles are successively fed alon this chute, and these articles may be suitab ywrapped and be en plied by any desired form of wrapping mec amsm. The supply-plungerll operates below the mouth of the chute H and is mounted upon the supply-rod H this rod operating in suitable bearin s and bein reciprocated by the bevel-gear TF driven om the owershaft L, having the fast and loose pul e s L L and connected with the sup ly-cran H This crank is connected with t e rod H by the link H ,\so' that the plunger is by this means constantly reciprocated. This plunger in its backward movement passes out from under the supply-chute. such as a wrapped cake of soap, then drops upon the runway G and is fed forward by the plunger, as indicated in Fig. 5, the pluner operating continually in this way and orming a row of articles upon the runway, asis indicated in Fig. 4.

Transfer meci'ranism.The uides I are secured to the frame adjacent t e runway, and the transfer-slide I is mounted to move upon these guides and is constantly reci rocated by the bevel-gear L connected to t e crank ll, this crank operating the slide I through the link I. The guides I are also mounted adjacent the runway, and the transfer-plunger l is mounted u on these guides to reciprocate thereon. he transfer-latch I is mounted to move vertically in suitable uides in the plunger, so as to cooperate wit the notch l in the transfer-slide. This latch is connected, throughthe spring I, with the transfer-trigger I, which is preferably pivotally mounted upon the plunger. This trigger, as is seen in Fi s. 3, 4, and '5, is formed with a trigger-plate at its outer'end. This plate, when engaged by the leadin article.

in the completed row, as is seen in ig. 4, is raised thereby raising the latch into enga ement with the notch in the transfer-sli e, as is seen in Fig. 7. The slide in its next reciprocation transfers the row of articles from the runway to the table, the parts taking the position indicated in Fig. 8, 1n which a com- The lower article,

ITO

(indicated in Fig. 8) rides over the hideplate G thereby holding the trigger-p ate in elevated position until its rearward position is reached, when the cam-piece may drop around the curved end of the guide-plate. The transfer-gate I is preferably movably mounted upon the transfer-plunger, the gatepin I being indicated for that pur ose. A suitable light spring may be emp oyed, if desired, to normally hold this gate down. The outer end of the gate is formed with the gate-finger I", which as the gate moves outward raises the pivoted gate-cam I", normally held downward by the spring 1 against the stop-pin P". In its outer position the gate-finger is above the end of this cam, and on the rearward movement of the transfer-plunger the gate-finger rides over the top of the cam, thus raising the gate into the elevated position (indicated in Fig. 5) and keeping this gate out of engagement with the first article fed from the supply-chute, as is clearly seen in that figure. The gate-finger in its rearward position moves out of enagement with the cam and falls into the ower position. (Shown in Figs. 3 and 7.) Insert mechanism.-As is seen in Fig. 2, the insert-plunger J is indicated as connected with the cover T, which is preferably provided for the purpose of accurately guiding the articles as they are inserted into the box R, which is supported adjacent the table G. This plunger is connected with the links J, operated, through the cranks J by the shaft J. This shaft is rotated by the ear J which meshes with the pinion K. T is pinion K is fast with the ad'acent clutch-disk,

' which is provided with t e notch K, as is indicated in Fig. 11. The disk K fastened to the power-shaft L, carries the springpressed pawl K which normally tends to engage the notch K and operates the plunger through the mechanism described. The trigger-plate M for this mechanism is secured to the trigger-rod M, this rod being connected by the arm M with the trigger M guided in its vertical movement by the bolts or screws M which engage suitable slots in the portion M of the trigger, as indicated. The edge guide M is indicated as pivoted to the trigger-plate and as provided with the rods M" which support the springs M, nor mall tending to throw the edge guide outwar This spring pressed guide enga es the ends of the wrappers of the articles ed along the table and effectually closes the same, holding them in position against the articles. The trigger M is formed at its rearward end with the upturned trigger-cam M (Shown in Fig. 10.) The cam-lugJ, secured to the plunger J, engages this cam as soon as the plunger moves forward and raises the triggerplate into the elevated position, (indicated in ig. 9,) so that the plate is held out of engagement with the articles and maintained in this elevated position until the insert-plunger reaches its rearward positionafter forcing the layer of articles into the-box.

The leading row of the complete layer of articles raises the trigger-plate M, as is seen in Fig. 8. This operates, through the connecting mechanism, to raise the trigger M into the dotted position indicated in Fig. 6. The trigger, as is seen in Fig. 11, thus releases the pawl K which thereupon engages the notch K and operates, through the connecting mechanism described, to reciprocate the insert-plunger, the trigger being held in this position through the trigger-cam and lug described until the plunger again reaches its rearward position, when the trigger descends into engagement with the pawl K thus preventing further movement of the plunger.

The cover is preferably provided with supporting mechanism, which may take' the form of the slides T which engage the corresponding guideways T, secured to the frame, to hold the cover at the proper height during its reciprocation. The cover may also be provided, if desired, with the hinged cover-flap T, (see Figs. 6 and 7,) preferably lowered when moved forward by the spring T indicated. When the plunger is in the rearward position, (indicated in Fig. 6,) the flap rides up on the cover-guide T secured to the frame, and is forced into the elevated position indicated, the cover-flap coming into contact with the stop T Bozt feedt'ng mechanism.-The boxes into which the articles are packed are located adjacent the table, as indicated in Fig. 2, and preferably automatically fed forward as the articles are inserted therein, being supported and fed by suitable box-feeders, which preferably have box-supports spaced thereon at a less distance a art than the width of the box, so that on the discharge of one box another at once assumes the proper position with relation to the table. These box-feeders may take the form of the box-chains 0 around the indicated in Fig. 14 as passin sprockets O, O, and O and as heing provided with the movable supports P, indicated in Fig. 18 as mounted upon the pivots P secured to the pro'ecting portions 0 of the brackets 0 upon t e chain. The springs P normally force these supports outward, so that the heels P of the same engage the boxchains, although the supports may move into the dotted position shown. The box R is supported by the fingers P beneath the same. As each la er of articles is inserted in the box the box 1s fed downward the proper distance by the feed-roll J which at the end of the revolution of the gear moves into one of the slots J 6 of the stop-Wheel and rotates this stop-wheel through a quarter of a revolution, the stop-rim J secured to the gear, thereupon engaging the sector J to .secure .the

sprocket-wheels Q and Q erasvt 'alinement f this stop-wheel." (See Fig. 2.) The sto eel is connected by the s rocketchain with the sprocket-wheel 2 upon the shaft N this shaft rotating the chainshafts N through the bevel-gears N, the boxchains 0 being operated by the sprockets O on these shafts, which, as are indicated, are

mounted in suitable hearings in the columns N 9 N It will therefore be apparent after the insert-plunger has forced a layer of articles into the box R, which is guided by the boxguides S, that the box after the plun er has withdrawn therefrom is fed forward t rough a space substantially equal to the thickness of the layer of articles inserted. The box when filled islowered by the box-feeder upon the box-discharge, indicated as a chain conveyer Q", mounted upon the sprocket-Wheels Q and continuall rotated by the shaft Q by means of a sproc et-chain Q, connecting the The sprocketwheel Q, Which is loose u on the shaft N is connected with the sproc et-wheel Q (indicated in Fig. 1) and is driven by the sprocketchain Q engaging the sprocket-wheel Q on the drive-shaft L. j

As is seen in Fi 17, the filled box R as it is lowered upon t e box-discharge is moved in the direction of the arrow, passing under the guides S and allowing the up er box R to descend into engagement wit the boxsupports P. Before the removal of the filled box the upper series of box-sup orts were in engagement with the sides of t e filled box, as indicated in Figs. 14 and 15; but as the filled box moves rearward past-the box-chains the boxsupports are thrown downward by their springs into the dotted position indicated in Fig. 15, so that the upper empty box R descends first u on one pair of these supports, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 17 and then as the filled box is completely removed from beneath the up er box the latter de-' scends into the dotte position, engagin all of the supports and coming into proper imement with respect to the table G; In this way by spacing the box-su ports a less distance a art on the box eeders than the width 0 a box the thickness of the sides of the box may be compensated for, althou h the extent of movementof the feeders is t e same at all times, The filled box as it is fed over the end of the box discharge tilts over and is deposited upon thefloor in an upright position, the open end of the box being on top, the height of the box-discharge being regulated to effect this result.

t is of course understood b. those familiar with this art that many modi cations may be made in the number, proportions, and sizes of parts'of this .machme Without departing from the spirit of this invention or losing the advantages of the same. Furthermore, parts of thls machine may be omitted and parts may be used 1n connection with other devices eating transfer sli What I claim as new and what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. In packing-machines, a table having a runway adjacent thereto, a feed-plunger to feed a row of articles along said runway, a transfer-plunger mounted adjacent said runway and provided with a trigger to be en.- gaged by said articles, a reciprocating slide ad acent said transferplunger to be connected therewith by said trigger to transfer said row of articles to said table, an insert-plunger and operating mechanism adjacent said table, means actuated by said articles connected with said operating mechanism to operate said plungenand box-feeding means adjacent said table to support and feed forward boxes'as articles are inserted therein.

2. In packing machines, a table having a runway adjacent thereto, means to feed a series of articles along said runway, a reciproe adjacent said runway, a transferlungerdisengageably connected with said side, a transfer-trigger to be engaged by said articles on said runway to connect said lunger and said slide to transfer said artic es upon said table, means to support a box adjacent said table, an insert-plum ger adjacent said table, disengageable operating mechanism connected therewith and means actuated b said articles to connect said operating mec anism and said plunger to insert said articles on said table into said box.

3. In packing-machines, a table having a runway adjacent thereto, means to successively feed a series of articles along said runway to form a row, transfer mechanism actuated by said articles to transfer each completed row of articles from said runway to said table to form a layer, means to support a box adjacent said table and means actuated by the complete layer of articles on said table toinsert said layer into said box.

4. In packing-machines,a table having a runway adjacent thereto, means to succes sively feed a series of articles along said runway to form a row, a reciprocating slide adjacentsaid runway, a transfer-plunger coo erating with said slide, a trigger movab y mounted on said plunger and normally in the path of said row to be engaged by the leading article of a completed row and to connect,

said slide and said plunger to transfer said row from said runway to said table and means to hold said trigger in operative position to maintain the engagement between said slide and said plunger until they'move into rearward position.

5. ha packing-machine, a runway, means to successively feed a series of articles upon said runway to form-a layer, a reciprocating slide adjacent said runway, a plunger to cooperate with said slide, a trigger movably mounted on said plunger and normally in the path of said row to be engaged by the leading article of a completed row to connect said plunger and said slide to discharge said row from said runway, a movable gate on said plunger and a gate-cam to withdraw said formed with a cover cooperating with said table, a movable cover-flap mounted on said i cover, means to feed articles from said runway upon said table, means to reciprocate said plunger to insert said articles into said box and means to lower said cover-flap as said articles are inserted into said box.

8. In packing-machines, a table, means to support a box adjacent said table, an insertplunger cooperating with said table to insert articles into said box, a trigger-rod adjacent said table and connected with a trigger, means to reciprocate said plunger comprising a pawl in the path of said trigger, and means to feed articles to said table to engage said trigger-plate to actuate said plunger and means to hold said trigger in operative position until said plunger is withdrawn.

9. In packing1nachines, a'table, a plunger cooperating with said table to discharge articles therefrom, a trigger-plate adjacent said table to be engaged by said articles, means to operate said plunger disengageably connected therewith and controlled by said triggerplate and means on said plunger to engage said trigger-plate and to hold the same in operative position until said plunger is retracted.

10. In packing-i'nachines, a table, means to feed a series of articles upon said table, a trigger-plate adjacent said table, an edge guide adjacent said table, a plunger cooperating with said table to discharge articles therefrom, actuating means to be engaged by said articles to operate said plunger and means connected with said plunger to maintain said actuating means in operative position until said plunger is withdrawn.

11. In a packing-nnu'hine, a table, a plunger to feed a series of articles from said table, box-feeding means adjacent said table provided with supports spaced apart at a less distance than the width of a box, means to operate said box-feeding means from said plunger to move said box as articles are inserted therein and a box-discharge to remove a filled box from said feeding means and to bring another box into engagement with another set of supports.

12. In packing-machines, box-guides, boxfeeders adjacent said guides, movable supports on said box-feeders spaced apart at a different distance than the width of a box, means adjacent said box-feeders to feed articles into a box and to simultaneously operate said box-feeders and a box-discharge to remove a box from said box-feeders and to bring another box into engagement with the supports thereon.

13. In packing-machines, box-guides, boxchains adjacent said guides, pivoted springpressed supports on said chains spaced apart at a less distance than the width of a box, means adjacent said chains to, feed articles into a box and to simultaneouslyoperate said chains and a box-discharge to remove a filled box from said supports and to allow another box to engage another series of said supports.

14. In packing-machines, a table having a runway adjacent thereto to guide a series of articles, transfer mechanism actuated by said articles to transfer eacheompletedrow of articles from said runway to said table to form a layer, means to support a box adjacent said table and means actuated by the complete layer of articles on said table to insert said layer in said box.

15. In packing-machines, a runway to guide a series of articles to form rows, transfer mechanism actuated by said articles to transfer each completed row of articles from said runway to form a layer and means actuated by the complete layer of articles to discharge said layer.

16. In packing-machines, a runway to guide a series of articles, transfer mechanism to transfer each completed row of articles from said runway to form a layer and separate means to discharge each complete layer of articles.

17. In packing-machines, a runway having a table adjacent thereto, means tosupport a box adjacent said table, an insert-plunger, means to feed rows of articles from said runway upon said table to form a layer and means directly engaged and actuated by said layer to reciprocate said plunger to insert said layer of articles into said box. i

18. In packing-machines, a table, means to feed a series of articles upon said table, a trigger-plate adjacent said table, a plunger cooperating with said table to discharge articles therefrom, actuating means to be engaged by said articles to operate said plunger and means connected with said plunger to maintain said actuating means in operative position until said plunger is withdrawn.

19. In packing-machines, a table, a plunger cooperating with said table to discharge articles therefrom, actuating means to be dimoved from said chains to bring rectly engaged by said articles, means to operate said plunger disengageably connected therewith and controlled by said actuating means and means to hold said actuating means and trigger-plate in operative position until said plunger is retracted.

20. In packing-machines, transfer means to engage and transfer articles, actuating means to be directly engaged by said articles, means to operate said transfer means disengageably connected therewith and controlled by said actuating means and devices engaging said transfer means to hold said actuating means in operative position until said transfer means is retracted.

21 In acking-machines, article-feeding means to eed a series of articles into a box, box-feeding means rovided with supports spaced apart at a di erent distance than the width of a box, means to operate said boxfeeding means from said article-feeding means to move said box as articles are inserted therein and a box-discharge to remove a filled box from said feeding means and to bring another box into engagement with an other set of supports.

22. In packing-machines, box-feeders, supports on said box-feeders spaced apart at a different distance than the Width of a box, means adjacent said box-feeders to feed articles into a box, means to operate said boxfeeders and a discharger to remove a box from said feeders and to allow another box to move into engagement with the supports thereon.

23. In packing-machines, box-feeders, means to operate said feeders, alining lugs on said feeders spaced apart at different distances than the width of a box and means to discharge a box from said feeders and to allow another box to move relatively to said feeders to engage the supports thereon.

24. In packing-machines, box-chains, means to o erate said box-chains, alining lugs on said box-chains spacedapart at a different distance than the width of a box, and means to move unfilled boxes relatively to said chains after a filled box has been resaid unfilled box into alinement against sai alining lugs.

25. In packing-machines, a runway to guide a series of articles, transfer mechanism to transfer separately each completed row of articles from said runway to form a layer and means to discharge each completed layer of articles. 1

26. In packing-machines, a runway having a table adjacent thereto, means to support a box adjacent said-table, an insert-plunger, means to feed rows of articles from said runway upon said table to form a layer, said plunger mounted to move in the same plane as the layer of articles, and means engaged and actuated by said layer to reciprocate said plunger and insert said layer of articles in said box.

27. In packing-machines, a runway having a table adjacent thereto, means to support a box adjacent said table, an insert-plunger, adapted to move in a horizontal plane, means to feed rows of articles from said runway upon said table to form a layer, said layer adapted to be moved in a horizontal plane by the insertlunger and means engaged and actuated y said layer to ram rocate said plunger and insert said layer 0 articles into said box.

28. In packing-machines, a runway having a table adjacent thereto, means to support a box adjacent said table, an insert plunger, means to feed rows of articles from said runway upon said table to form a layer, said plunger mounted to move in the same lane as thelayer of articles and means direct y en gaged and actuated by said layer to reciprocate said plunger and insert said layer of articles in said box.

29. In packing-machines, a runway having a table adjacent thereto, means to support a box adjacent said table, aninsert-plunger, adapted to move in a horizontal lane, means to feed rows of articles from sai runway upon said table to form a layer, said layer adapted to be moved in a horizontal plane by the insertplunger and means directly engaged and actuated by said layer to reciprocate said plunger and insert said layer of articles into said box.

JAMES A. KEYES. Witnesses:

W. E. PEARSE, W. L. BREMER. 

